RHINOCEROS KEITLOA. 
though every where the species appeared rare when compared with the others ; and, after several 
months’ wanderings, it was found that only sixty-eight individuals had been seen, eight of which 
in one herd, (two of them, not more than half grown,) were disturbed by myself when 
feeding near to the banks of a river we were descending. According to the evidence of the 
natives, the Keitloa is of a very savage disposition, on which account it is more feared than 
Borili, which has also a character for ferocity. Its food consists of small shrubs, or the 
more delicate branches of brushwood, in collecting which, the prolongation of the anterior ex- 
tremity of the upper lip proves a useful assistant. For a more detailed account of the manners 
and habits of this species, we may refer to the Appendix hereafter to be published. 
W hile in the neighbourhood of the Tropic, we heard of two other species of the genus, which 
exist still farther to the northward ; but, unfortunately, could not obtain any very circumstantial 
evidence concerning them, as the persons who had seen them were only on a visit in the 
countiy they inhabit. One of them was stated to approximate the Keitloa ; the other was de- 
scribed as very different to any species previously seen by them, and to have only one long horn 
towards the forehead. Now', though descriptions of objects furnished by such persons are 
often inaccurate, from the circumstance of their not having been favourably situated lor making 
correct observations, as w r ell as from a deficiency of language calculated to convey the informa- 
tion they actually possess, I have always remarked that even a hasty examination seemed to 
supply the savage with more accurate notions of the general characters of animals than it did 
the civilized man, and therefore I do not despair of species such as they mentioned being yet 
discovered. 
It is in regard to the species with the single horn, that we experience the greatest hesitation 
in receiving their evidence as credible, and, therefore, it is agreeable to have it corroborated by 
the testimony of a man from a very different part of the country, as obtained and published by 
a missionary of great research who resided a long time in Madagascar. The individual who 
furnished Mr. Freeman with the account of the Ndzoo-dzoo, was a native of the country 
northward of Mozambique, and if we admit certain portions of the descriptions to be tainted 
with errors, we can recognise in the remainder the genuine habits of a Rhinoceros, and probably 
one of the species, with which our informants were slightly acquainted. 
“ It appears,” observes Mr. Freeman, “ that the Ndzoo-dzoo is by no means rare in Makooa. 
It is about the size of a horse, extremely fleet and strong. It has one single horn projecting 
bom its forehead, from twenty-four to thirty inches in length. This is flexible when the animal 
is asleep ; it can be curled like the trunk of the Elephant, but becomes perfectly firm and hard 
when the animal is excited, and especially when pursuing an enemy. Its disposition is ex- 
tremely fierce, and it universally attacks man if it sees him. The usual method of escape 
adopted by the natives is, to climb up a dense and high tree, so as to avoid, if possible, being 
seen. If the animal misses his sight of the fugitive, he immediately gallops off to his haunt ; 
from whence it may be inferred that he is not endowed with the power of a keen scent. Should 
he, however, espy his object in the tree, woe to the unfortunate native,— he begins to hutt icith 
his horns , strikes and penetrates the tree, and continues piercing it till it falls, when Ins victim 
seldom escapes being gored to death. Unless the tree is of a large girth, he never fails in 
breaking it down. Having killed his victim, he leaves him without devouring the carcase. 
The male only is provided with the horn. The female has not anything of the kind.”* 
* South African Christian Recorder, Yol. i. p. 33. 
